Finding 1160128 (2022-010)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
F
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2025-10-06
Audit: 370531
Organization: College of the Marshall Islands (MH)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The College's capital asset records are incomplete and not updated regularly, failing to meet federal requirements for equipment and property management.
  • Impacted Requirements: Non-compliance with Sections 200.313 and 200.303 of the Uniform Guidance, including inadequate internal controls and maintenance procedures.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: College management should enhance internal control policies and procedures to ensure compliance with federal regulations and improve asset management practices.

Finding Text

Finding No.: 2022-010 Pass-Through Entity: Republic of the Marshall Islands Federal Agency: U.S. Department of the Interior AL Program: 15.875 Economic, Social and Political Development of the Territories Federal Award No.: Compact of Free Association Program, As Amended Area: Equipment and Real Property Management Questioned Costs: $ Undeterminable Criteria: Non-federal entities other than states must follow Sections 200.313(c) through (e) of the Uniform Guidance. Section 200.313(d) states that procedures for managing equipment, whether acquired in whole or in part under a Federal award, until disposition takes place will, as a minimum, meet the following requirements: a. Property records must be maintained that include a description of the property, a serial number or other identification number, the source of funding for the property (including the FAIN), who holds title, the acquisition date, and cost of the property, percentage of Federal participation in the project costs for the Federal award under which the property was acquired, the location, use and condition of the property, and any ultimate disposition data including the date of disposal and sale price of the property; b. A physical inventory of the property must be carried out and the results reconciled with the property records at least once every two years; c. A control system must be developed to ensure adequate safeguards to prevent loss, damage, or theft of the property. Any loss, damage, or theft must be investigated; d. Adequate maintenance procedures must be developed to keep the property in good condition; and e. If the non-Federal entity is authorized or required to sell the property, proper sales procedures must be established to ensure the highest possible return. Furthermore, 2 CFR 200.303(a) states that the subrecipient must establish, document, and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the subrecipient is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should align with the guidance in “Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government” issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the “Internal Control-Integrated Framework” issued by the COSO. Condition: Capital assets records do not meet the criteria above and are not effectively maintained since updates to the records occur only once a year. Specifically, we noted the following deficiencies: 1. Certain information in the capital assets records are either incomplete or missing, such as the source of funding for the property (including the FAIN), who holds title, percentage of Federal participation in the project costs for the Federal award under which the property was acquired, the location, use and condition of the property, and any ultimate disposition data including the date of disposal and sale price of the property). 2. An inventory of capital assets has been performed on an annual basis; however, the result of the physical inventory was not completely reflected/reconciled with the property records. 3. As capital assets records are not effectively maintained, it does not appear that the College has effectively developed means to adequately safeguard capital assets from loss, damage, or theft, or to reasonably investigate such occurrences. 4. Long-lived assets are not routinely evaluated for possible impairment. Cause: The College lacks adequate internal control policies and procedures over compliance with the applicable federal property rules and regulations and lacks effective procedures governing property maintenance, as well as periodic assessment of asset impairment conditions. Moreover, internal control policies and procedures requiring periodic and timely performance and independent review of capital assets reconciliations and related general ledger accounts are not effectively implemented. Effect: The College is not in compliance with the applicable equipment and real property management requirements. Questioned costs, if any, that may result from inadequate property records, maintenance procedures, and the absence of timely reconciliations are not determinable. Capital outlays within the program for fiscal years are summarized as follows: Fiscal Year Capital Outlays 2022 $131,200 2021 $207,400 2020 $248,700 2019 $249,400 2018 $359,000 Identified as a Repeat Finding: 2021-007 Recommendation: College management should establish and strengthen internal control policies and procedures over compliance with the applicable federal regulations on equipment and real property management. Views of Auditee and Planned Corrective Actions: The College agrees with the finding and provides details in its Corrective Action Plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Equipment and Real Property Management College of the Marshall Islands acknowledges the finding and confirms that a new system has been put in place to transition from manual to automated processes for improved recordkeeping and monitoring. The College has implemented the MIP Fixed Asset Module to maintain complete and accurate capital asset records, conduct timely reconciliations, and strengthen asset safeguarding controls. Internal procedures have been enhanced to ensure periodic physical inventory, prompt updates, and independent reviews of capital asset records. The full reconciliation and migration of all capital asset data into the new system is actively ongoing and scheduled to be completed by December 2025. These measures will ensure compliance with federal property management requirements and prevent recurrence of similar issues in the future.

Categories

Equipment & Real Property Management Subrecipient Monitoring

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1160126 2022-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160127 2022-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160129 2022-011
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160130 2022-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160131 2022-013
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160132 2022-014
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160133 2022-015
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160134 2022-016
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160135 2022-017
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160136 2022-018
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160137 2022-019
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160138 2022-019
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160139 2022-020
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160140 2022-021
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160141 2022-021
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160142 2022-021
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160143 2022-022
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160144 2022-022
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160145 2022-023
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160146 2022-023
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1160147 2022-023
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $7.50M
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $3.02M
15.875 Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories $1.69M
84.047 Trio Upward Bound $269,114
93.107 Area Health Education Centers $90,102
10.308 Resident Instruction, Agriculture, and Food Science Facilities and Equipment Grants $45,256
47.076 Stem Education (formerly Education and Human Resources) $16,725